Boxing Prospects

Boxing is set to return to Legends Casino in Toppenish, Washington on June 12 as Roy Jones Junior promotions presents “Night of Champions.” The six bout fight card is the inaugural effort of matchmaker and Spokane boxing legend, Chauncey Welliver.

The main event will feature a rematch of a fight from August of ’25 that pitted Maricela Cornejo (19 78 7KO) against Natasha Spence (10 8 2 2KO)In that August bout Spence won a six round unanimous decision. This fight is scheduled for ten rounds, and that might work to Cornejo’s’ advantage in that she has a bit more ring experience, however neither woman has won in their past ten round fights. This will be Cornejo’s first return to the ring since the loss in August while Spence fought and won a majority decision in October. When these two last fought, Spence’s aggression paved her path to victory. In the return bout look for Cornejo to use her height and reach advantage to slow Spence’s pressure. The fight will be contested at the super welterweight level.

A six round super lightweight bout will see Andres Reyes (9 4 1 2KO) face Brandon Watley (1 5). On paper this looks like a tough match for Watley as Reyes has nine wins, two coming by way of knockout, while Watley has won but once, and that win came in 2024. However, one must take into account Watley’s performance in his last two fights to see what he brings to the ring. Twice this year Watley has faced Jose Garcia-Ponce, fighting him to a majority draw in the first battle and losing a majority decision in the second. Garcia-Ponce is one of the Northwest’s premier super welterweight fighters as he is unbeaten in six bouts. That Watley challenged him in those two fights shows Watley’s strength and ability to match punches with one of the best. Reyes, since his return to the ring in 2025 has one win and one loss. He took a majority decision from Miklo Arnold, who always fights tough; but lost by knockout to unbeaten Piotr Apostol. While neither fighter may lay claim to carrying knockout power, both will be aware that the other carries right hand power punch ability.

A pair of heavyweights will face each other over the course of a bout scheduled for four rounds as Theo Doukas (debut) will make his professional debut against Carlos Villenueva (7 3 1KO). Doukas has experience as a bare knuckle fighter, so one need not question his toughness. This will be a return to the ring for Villanueva after a two year layoff. Prior to the time away he had racked up five wins in a row, three of those wins coming against previously unbeaten opponents. Both men may have the support of the crowd, as Villanueva hails from nearby Union Gap while Doukas resides in Spokane.

A four round middleweight fight will see Jesus Valenzuela (debut) make his professional debut facing Gerald Powell-Wood (2 1 1KO). This will be Powell-Wood’s fourth fight of the year, having won his first two before dropping a unanimous decision that hinged on the outcome of one round. Powell-Wood has shown the ability to use his height and reach advantage in his previous fights, though in this bout Valenzuela matches well in those categories. Valenzuela will have to find ways to counter Powell-Wood’s quickness as in his previous fights he has often attacked opponents jumping in throwing combinations then backing out before the opponent can counter punch. Both men are locals, Powell-Wood fights out of Spokane while Valenzuela calls Yakima home. Look for the crowd to have a favorite in this bout.

Darnell Thompson (2 0 2KO) returns to Legends Casino where he won his professional debut, scoring a knockout win in the first round. Thompson will go to battle with Ryan Bailey (1 7 1) in a heavyweight fight scheduled for four rounds. If this fight goes the distance, it will be the first time that Thompson will put the outcome in the hands of the judges as his first fight ended with a round one knockout and his second saw his opponent retire in the second round. Bailey has gone the distance in all but one of his fights, all but one four round affairs. While Thompson is looking to remain unbeaten, Bailey is looking to get a win under his belt, something he has struggled to do since his pro debut in 2023.

Rounding out the fight card will be Isaac Russell (debut) and Bryan Andrew Cox (0 7) stepping in for a four round featherweight fight. Russell has experience as an amateur boxer, and that can be of some help when entering the ranks as a professional. Cox is a veteran of seven fights, though he has yet to claim a win, having lost each time by knockout. While Russell will certainly be aware of Cox’s vulnerabilities, that is also what can make Cox dangerous. He can swing away as if he has little to lose. Russell is another of the Spokane fighters making the sort trip to Toppenish.